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Sunday, 30 April 2017

Gylfi Sigurdsson cancelled out a controversial Wayne Rooney penalty
to secure a 1-1 draw for Swansea City at Old Trafford that damages
Manchester United's top-four ambitions.
Rooney swept home from the spot moments before half-time after Marcus
Rashford had gone to ground under almost no contract from Lukasz
Fabianski, but Swansea's set-piece maestro stole a point that could
wreck the hosts' hopes of qualifying for the Champions League through
domestic competition.
United also saw Luke Shaw and Eric Bailly added to their already
lengthy injury list just four days ahead of their Europa League
semi-final first leg against Celta Vigo.
Swansea, who are now just two points adrift of safety in 18th place,
looked the brighter of the teams for much of the first half but chances
were limited before the penalty incident in stoppage time.
Jose Mourinho was without injured trio Paul Pogba, Chris Smalling and
Phil Jones and Shaw and Bailly were forced off in either half to
compound their concerns ahead of a crucial run of fixtures that includes
trips to Arsenal and Tottenham alongside that European semi-final.
United looked likely to hold onto the three points regardless but
Sigurdsson's stunning free-kick snatched a draw for the visitors to deny
Mourinho's men the chance to move into the top four.
3 - Sigurdsson has become the first player to score in 3 consecutive
PL away games at Old Trafford since Aguero in April 2015. Precision.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 30, 2017

A sluggish start from
United was made worse when Shaw hobbled off with less than nine minutes
played, the full-back indicating discomfort in his left leg.
Swansea were by far the better team in the opening quarter of an hour
and Fernando Llorente brought a fine reaction stop out of David de Gea
from a Tom Carroll cross, before United's shaky defence scrambled the
ball clear.
First-half goals have been in short supply at Old Trafford this
season but Jesse Lingard almost the broke the deadlock in the 17th
minute, racing onto Anthony Martial's delivery before seeing his volley
expertly blocked by Fabianski.
The Swansea keeper saved well again when Martial cut in from the left
and drilled low at goal, but De Gea went one better when he stuck out a
foot to stop Jordan Ayew after some fine footwork in the area.
The visitors' good work was undone in controversial fashion on the
stroke of half-time, however. Rashford went down as Fabianski raced out
to meet him and referee Neil Swarbrick pointed to the spot, after
lengthy consideration.
Replays showed the England youngster had gone to ground far too
easily and Rooney compounded Swansea's frustrations as he swept the
penalty into the bottom-right corner.
20 - Wayne Rooney is the first Manchester United player to score 20 Premier League penalties for the club. Spot.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 30, 2017

Rooney
thumped a clear chance against Martial's back three minutes after the
restart as United pushed for a second, but there was more bad news for
Mourinho as Bailly had to be replaced with what looked to be an injury
to his right ankle.
Sigurdsson wasted a great chance to level on the break, blasting high
from the edge of the area, but the Iceland midfielder responded in
style with 11 minutes to play, bending a sublime free-kick past the
motionless De Gea from 20 yards out.
It could have been worse for United had Llorente managed to connect
with a Sigurdsson delivery with the goal gaping, but the teams had to
settle for a draw that was greeted with huge frustration by the home
fans who stayed until the final whistle.

Key Opta stats:
- Manchester United have set a new club record for the longest
unbeaten run within a single top-flight season (25 games, W13 D12).- Only Alan Shearer (190) has scored in more different Premier League games than Wayne Rooney (150).- Gylfi Sigurdsson has been directly involved in 21 of Swansea's 40 Premier League goals this season (nine goals, 12 assists).